Bucks County · Bensalem Township · #7910-C
Pen Ryn Estate additions and new building
About 1,000 ft south of State Road, between Wharf Road and Herringbone Lane, Bensalem Township, PA · 14,348 sq ft non-residential, other · 9.4 acres
About this project
Adds two building additions (about 4,700 and 5,088 sq ft) and a new 4,560 sq ft building to the 9.4-acre Pen Ryn Estate, a banquet and restaurant venue about 550 feet from the Delaware River. The venue plans to offer lodging for event guests. Existing buildings are about 14,000 and 11,300 sq ft, served by private water and sewer.
Issues raised: Requested SALDO waivers for separate plan stages, existing features, tree count and lighting, Stormwater waivers for HDPE pipe and reduced cover must be resolved before approval, Historic resources overlay review considerations, Buffer and screening to be addressed at land development stage
- Applicant
- Pen Ryn Mansion Associates
- Plan type
- Preliminary land development
- Land use
- other
- Zoning
- R-55 Riverfront Revitalization District with HRO Historic Resources Overlay
Filing history
- 2026-04-14 · #7910-C · Preliminary land development · 14,348 sq ft
County review packet (meeting materials) →
Map pin is approximate.
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
Pen Ryn Estate is a historic banquet and restaurant venue on about 9.4 acres near the Delaware River. The owner plans two additions to existing buildings (about 4,700 and 5,088 square feet) and one new 4,560-square-foot building. Together they add about 14,300 square feet. The existing buildings are about 14,000 and 11,300 square feet and use private water and sewer.
The new space is meant for lodging. Local news reports describe about 37 guest rooms in three buildings. The rooms would be only for guests booked for events at the estate, not the general public, and an innkeeper would be on site around the clock.
News coverage says the township council voted to approve the plan on June 22, 2026. The developer's team said the project would add no parking and no new trips, since guests would already be on site.
What it could mean nearby
- The developer's team said parking and traffic would not increase, because lodgers would already be at the site for events. This is the developer's claim, not an independent study.
- The lodging is limited to event guests, so it is not expected to work like a public hotel.
- The estate keeps its private water and sewer, so the records show no new demand on public utilities.
- No new homes or school impacts are indicated. The records do not say how many jobs would be added.
Where it stands
Bensalem's township council voted to approve the land development on June 22, 2026, after the planning commission reviewed it in May. One news outlet reported preliminary and final approval, while another reported preliminary only, so the exact stage should be confirmed with the township. Next usually come final plan sign-off, any required permits, and then construction.
- Jun 22, 2026 Township council voted to approve the land development, with several waivers
- May 20, 2026 Township planning commission agenda listed the preliminary land development plan
- Apr 14, 2026 Latest county planning filing
- Apr 2, 2026 Zoning hearing board preview listed the site as seeking variances (outcome not found)
Want to weigh in? Bensalem Township Council made the main approval vote, so residents can contact the township or attend council and planning commission meetings for any further steps.
Who's behind it
Pen Ryn Mansion Associates · The owner and operator of the Pen Ryn Estate banquet and restaurant venue in Bensalem, a historic riverfront property.
Around the web
- Pen Ryn Gets Its Hotel, Three New Board Members Sworn In, and Data Center Scope Confirmed – Council Recap, June 22, 2026Bensalem Weekly · Jun 22, 2026Reports council approval of lodging buildings with about 37 rooms for event guests, with waivers and no added parking.
- Pen Ryn Mansion Expansion, Board Appointments, and an Industrial Addition – Council Preview, June 22, 2026Bensalem Weekly · Jun 22, 2026Previewed the council vote on the Pen Ryn expansion.
- Lower Bucks Source article on Pen Ryn approvalLower Bucks SourceDescribes the council vote as preliminary approval and says the rooms are only for booked event guests.
- Planning Commission Agenda, May 20, 2026Bensalem Township · May 20, 2026Shows the plan was on the planning commission agenda.
Planning terms explained
- Land development
- The township's formal review of plans for new buildings or major additions on a site.
- Waiver
- Permission to skip or relax a specific township design rule for a project.
- Variance
- An exception to zoning rules that the zoning hearing board may grant.
- Preliminary and final approval
- Two stages of plan approval, first of the general design and then of the detailed plans that allow permits.
- Stormwater
- Rain runoff from roofs and pavement that new projects must manage.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $2.9M
- ~143 roofing squares (assumes 1 story)
- ~35 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)